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In recent weeks, UFC vets like Jacob Volkmann and John Cholish have been openly critical about the compensation fighters earn from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and former welterweight contender Jon Fitch has argued that fighter’s need more say, but now a current member signed to the UFC has also spoken out.

While appearing on the Grapple Talk podcast recently, Tim Kennedy reportedly stated that “It’s a good thing I have another job because the UFC doesn’t pay very well”, before adding:

“It’s pathetic that so many fighters [have to have other jobs]…I’m one of the 3% of guys in the whole entire sport and it would be slim pickings to survive off what I make in fighting.”

“Anybody who accepts that as a reality of the sport is sad and pathetic. I hope this isn’t the reality of the sport, if it is I should probably go do something else, like empty trash cans. I’d make more money than I do now.”

It will be interesting to see how and if the UFC responds to the middleweight’s comments, since Kennedy is scheduled to fight Roger Gracie at UFC 162, and can’t be dismissed as a bitter ex-employee. After Cholish began criticizing the promotion’s compensation structure, UFC President Dana White argued that the vet had been given the same opportunity to succeed as the company’s top earners.

According to a follow up report from Grapple Talk, Kennedy claims he is set to make $55,000 at UFC 162, and if he defeats Gracie, he’ll earn a total of $70,000. The 33 year-old fighter and decorated Army vet says that after training expense, he’ll take home around $20,000.

UFC 162 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.